Most people know that women are entitled to maternity leave prior to the birth of their child, and child care leave after the birth (child care leave is available for both parents). You might not know though that the law provides for other benefits to lighten the burden on parents.

★Shorter Working Hours 短時間勤務制度If requested to do so by the employee, employers are obliged to make measures to shorten the working hours of an employee who has a child of less than 3 years of age and has not taken child care leave (Child Care and Family Care Leave Law, Article 23).

★Limitation on overtime work 時間外労働の制限If requested by the employee, employers must not have the worker work overtime in excess of 24 hours per month and 150 hours per year if that employee is taking care of a pre-school-age child (Child Care and Family Care Leave Law, Article 17).

★Limitation on late-night work 深夜業の制限If requested by the employee, employers must not have the worker work late at night if that employee is taking care of a pre-school-age child (Child Care and Family Care Leave Law, Article 19).

★Leave to care for a sick / injured child 子の看護休暇Upon application to their employer, an employee who is taking care of a pre-school-age child may obtain leave to look after the child in the event of injury or sickness to the child; with limits of up to five days per year if they have one pre-school-age child, or up to ten days per year if they have two or more such children (Child Care and Family Care Leave Law, Article 16).

★Exemption from overtime work 所定外労働の免除If requested to do so by the employee, employers must exempt the employee from working in excess of the prescribed working hours (Child Care and Family Care Leave Law, Article 17).